San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-01-06
FREE PRESS.
THURSDAY. JANUARY 6. 1887.
Schuyler COlfaX.


lister. Funk Il WIgnalls, New York,
We were kindly favored with copy of
the above named book some months since
and have been waiting that more conven-
lent season.. which so seldom comes to a
country editor and publisher, to notice it in
such n manner as might testify somewhat of
our appreciation of it. As an lndianaian,
living contemporane5 us W tn Mr.. Colfax-
born in fact the same ycar-we were among
those who loved and honored him in life,
and were deeply shocked and grieved at his
sudden death. (Apropos the delay of our
notice has in one respect made 1t more
timely, for his death occurred january Ii,
1885 y 1t is true our personal acquaint
ance with him was but slight. The first
time we met him was shortly after his
election to the Vice-Presidency in 1868, and
we saw and heard him speak in our part OF
the State and had kindly letter from him
not long afterwards. But long before aud
aside from this, we, in common with the
editors of the state generally, had learned
to look mp to Mr.. Colfax ms sort of ''elder
brother" in the profession, many of us hav-
| ing received favors at his hands, and to
claim some pride in the reflected credit of
his success and fame.
The Life of Colfnx" before us is an ee
CANT volume of 635 pages. Its illustrations
consist OF II life-iike portrait OF Mr.. Coliax
at his best, IN engraving of his mother anc
himself Mt the age of three years. view
on the St. Joseph River, in the region as
so ,iatei with his career from boyhood OF
the house III New York City where he was
born and o. his last reside II, South Bend,
Indiana.
SCHUYLER ca fax was of honorable alcesri.
His father, after whom he was named, died
before he was born, and to his mother lie
was indebted for his early training and
largely for his future success and fame.
Almost from child he exhibited procllv-
ty for politics which indicated the future
statesman. His mother having married
again to very worthy gentleman, the fam
ily moved to Northern Indiana in the fall of
1896 when SCHUYLER was thirteen years OF
age. Their means were quite humble, and
he never enjoyed u liberal education. lie
worked on a farm, clerked in store, and
his father having been elected auditor OF
the county, young Colfax became his as
sistant He soon became Interested In poll
tics, and by the way affords another
illustration Of what we not long SINE ad-
vocated, the practicability of attaining po-
litical distinction without following the
beaten track through the legal profession
OF this he was an eminent example, credit
ably and conspicuously figuring successivey
in the constitutions! convention OF Indiana
in 1850, as member of the State Legislature,
and of Congress- Speaker of the House, and
reaching the secoId highest Office III the
gift of the people, and all without ever hav-
ing studied or prdcticed the legal profeS'
sion. A most wholesome and commcnGaDe
example for young men. AMI hlgh com
pliment to the editorial calling through
whi.h Colfax. the statesman, reached re-
nown, He edited and published the st Jo-
seph Valley Register for about twenty years,
and thus laid the basis of his future fame |
We cannot here more than indicate the
career of Mr.. Coliax. The story Of his
life from 1850 to his retirement from public
life in 1869 involves the history of the Ma
ton during its most momentous period.
An ardent Wing. he became an equally de-
voted Republican, steadily standing by
principle always, ut the same time COM
the personal regard of his political
oppon hts. He was m intimate friend and
a'lv;s of Presi lent Lincoln, anl was the
last to bid him adieu before he went to the
theater on the night of his assassination !
As n member of Congress and rs Speaker
he commanded universal respect, and stood |
earnestly for the right and all measures of re- (
form Out of Congress he was ever active .
in reformatory and philanthropic move |
ments. He was lifelong advocate of the
tenlpcran reform, and himself a teetotaier !
He was M active member of the order OF
Odd Fellows. attained some of its highest
honors. aud was the original mover In favor
of the Daughters Degree, since 70 numer-
ously represented aud popular. He was
natron of Christian associations, Sunday
schools etc.. and in faith and practice held
to the duty of exemp!ifying the moral and
Christian virtues in public as well a. in pri-
vate life.
After his retirement hc continued active
in every good work. aiding alike with voice
mud purse, He delivered hundreds o. lee .
lures at various times aud places. or his
lecture on Lincoln the public never tired.
II was while on his way 10 fill an appoint
ment TO deliver this lecture in Northwestern
Iowa that he died He realized over $780,,
coo from his lectures.
We will aid only q word as to the charges
bruited against Mr.. ColfN in conlection
with the Credit Mobilier scheme. Surely
the "ironv of fate" was never more strik-
iugly exhibited than in the charge Of dis.
honesty against such mana charge 10
which his entire life, public and private,
rave the lie, Veto thsir shame be Il said
in this CHARGE was expressed by
many. aud while Garfield, who was also i'm
nlicated In the same matter, was elected
President ~ the United States, the calumny
agains: Colfax did not cease 90 thr end Of
his life How deeply be felt this great
wrong no orc hut himself could ever know.
After his death a sealed letter "a found
in his travelling hag. where he had carried
L nine velrs. superscribed for his wife and
son. sud vh'ch ouly rsa-hed them after
The news of his death. In this Letter be
gives TIE facts respecting the sia1dsrs
against himself. end closes as follow.
.sWhen our little boy is old enoush to IN
ie-s'aui az this. u be knows anything then
Of The I.aze ard ui-lod calumuies - uhirh
liz fail.cr uss aubiectai hy ene-nies and
.nyrs'es. BE- vii realize uhat a fathful
,rd hone; pablo sfrvani recsivei for
.varsv years of the prime - his lfs gwen
10 the serti-e - li- cruutrv. Ard nli thtt
.r-faiuef uis in tillf u-iii st-rn - cal1muv
.hat ragal ai0ut rns =ss tbe kr1Hislgs
.hst Col af ths at Day E0u.i uske ny
r-esf- and frufhfslreas ED1uu - al rlHn.
md Dat r1v daa- uifs kreu it ara cn-f -
n tfs ufferr11-s iu Lar iori1g a-i dsrrtsi
tusfard. SETTLE C1LyaE
Wr. Co-fzr uas tu1-s zasr-is5 -ff-a %
.srarIts 20 rs-.-sn- -sr-a-ia--s ttrf 10 81
ssaE - aIst-l fassrs l- ~ -a--srs 1s-arf Htr-
Es-s.. EHir 49, - -uu-s - fl 81 rpI .aartrstt